WhereAreWe

I'll be in Denver in 2 weeks and want to take my friend to the mountains for a day. He's never been to the mountains. I've been to Rocky Mountain National Park numerous times in all seasons, but am wondering what some other options are in case the park is closed due to the possible government shut-down.

Basically, I'm looking for a way to get into the mountains, see some scenery and maybe take a walk/snowshoe (depending on elevation and snowpack), or just drive around and take in the views. I've thought about going down to Colorado Springs and taking the cog railway up Pike's Peak for the views - the reviews look great and it sounds like it would be a good way to see some mountain scenery. Any other ideas? Really not looking for shopping or history, just the views so wondering if any of the little towns (Georgetown, Frisco etc.) are in line with what I'm used to seeing in RMNP.

fmpden

The bigger problem is that it is still winter in the mountains. Trailridge road in RMNP is closed. You could do a loop through Georgetown, Frisco, Breckenridge via I-70 and back into Denver via 9 and 285. A three to four hour drive plus stop time. A lot of views and different areas

christy1

Pike's Peak would be a fun idea. You could stop at Garden of the Gods if you had time. The only thing that gives me pause about it is that it isn't typical mountain scenery--it's quite stark, and in one direction it's the Great Plains as far as you can see. Not that there is anything wrong with that, it's just a very unique scene. I do think that the scenery in RMNP is much prettier than most other places that are accessible by day from Denver but I get that you've been there (and that it could be closed). Neither Georgetown nor Frisco are particularly scenic IMO (certainly not like RMNP).

tomfuller

Have you been to Glenwood Springs or Aspen? The Glenwood Canyon east of Glenwood Springs on I-70 is great scenery. In GS you have the largest hot spring fed swimming pool in the US right next to the Interstate and the Colorado River. You can also take a gondola ride up to the Glenwood Cavern.
Aspen is 41 miles SSE of Glenwood Springs. 3 hours from Denver to GS and another hour to Aspen.

PatD

Going to the mountains for one day from Denver will be tough since all the places mentioned are a few hours drive. You can always drive to Boulder and then drive to Nederland up Canyon and then drive around some mountains from that vantage point. The Rocky Mountains are open but the upper roads are closed, but you definately get a sense for being in the mountains from the drive from Lyons to Estes Park. RNP is always beautiful. You can snowshoe to Bear Lake that is open all year long. A few other places are also accessible during the winter/spring with snow and snowshoeing is very big in the park.

PeaceOut

If your friend has never been to the mountains, I think driving to Georgetown, or even Winter Park, would be a good day-trip. Because you would get big mountain vistas and actually be IN the mountains.

The drive around Boulder is nice, but it is foothills. I think your friend would be more impressed with the continental divide. Or, a short drive would be up Baseline to the Flagstaff overlook, and hike there or in Chautauqua Park which is the Flatiron setting. (Great dinners at the restaurant in Chautauqua, too, if it is open in April.)

Standinginafield

One day in the mountains west of Denver...most fun to be had will be in Estes Park. You can walk around the lake, shop, eat, and remeber to drink water. It gets dry and it is very different altitude than most places. If you can walk a lot, and enjoy the walking, def EP. That way, you don't have to drive all over the state of Colorado to get where you're going (and coming back from)

PeaceOut

Saying "One day in the mountains west of Denver...most fun to be had will be in Estes Park" is just one person's opinion. And not a local, I don't think.

And speaking of drive times:
Georgetown is 42 miles and Winter Park is 46 miles from Denver. Estes is 65 miles!

Other locations are:
From Denver to Boulder, CO
Distance: 29 miles

From Denver to Glenwood Springs, CO
Distance: 157 miles

From Denver to Steamboat Springs, CO
Distance: 166 miles

From Denver to Aspen, CO
Distance: 159 miles
.

Gretchen

Let's put it in hours. Peaceout did the distances. It can be all interstate even.
1.5 to Breckenridge. Could easily do the Breck/Frisco/Georgetown loop in a day, have a nice lunch at a cute place somewhere.
Vail is 2 hours drive. Beautiful mountain scenery on the way.
Aspen is 3.5-4 hours, with the spectacular drive through Glenwood Canyon, and LOTS of mountain scenery on the way.
There is Leadville also.

PeaceOut

Drive times vary wildly, according to road and weather conditions. Especially Colorado mountain driving in April. Don't set much stock by published times, as they are 'best case' times. I never get places as quickly as the published drive times.

Aspen is fantastic, but not as a day trip from Denver. if you could stay the night, it's one of our favs.

Gretchen

Well, you are correct, of course, but I am always pretty amazed that Vail is only 2 hours, and I've done it in snow (a bit longer, but I would sort of guess that snow "might"not happen, and if it did, they might not go, or understand that it will take longer).

Nelson

I agree with PatD and vote for RMNP. Yes, Trail Ridge Road will be closed at the higher elevations but the Bear Lake Road is open. You can hike at Cub Lake, Hallowell Park, Glacier Gorge, or Bear Lake.

You might need snowshoes for the latter two, but the first mile or two of those trails is often packed down. Depends on conditions / time of day whether the snow is easy to walk on without snowshoes. The Cub Lake trail should be clear of snow. Scenery in all these places is fabulous, with great views of Longs Peak and the Continental Divide.

The drive to RMNP avoids the I-70 madness, IMHO. Plus you could use Boulder as a nice stopping place for dinner.

PeaceOut

The OP said, "I've been to Rocky Mountain National Park numerous times".

RMNP is not the only thing to see in Colorado, people. I personally get tired of seeing it recommended constantly.

Gretchen

The other part of RMNP is that while definitely mountains, I find the mountain areas along I70 to be really interesting. A stop in Vail and a ride up the gondola to the top would be very amazing for someone who hasn't been there.

fmpden

Have to agree with PeaceOut, there are lots of areas in Colorado that are just as pretty if not prettier than RMNP. Going over Trailridge road is terrific in the summer but this side (east) is pretty so so at this time of year.

WhereAreWe

Thanks to all of you for your ideas. The government didn't shut down so my friend he wanted to see RMNP. Made it easier for me because I knew where to go and what to show them but I appreciate all of your responses. They will give me ideas for future trips as I don't want to keep going to RMNP myself.

We went through Boulder, Allenspark and then up to Estes and RMNP. He's not done much travelling so thought it was all good stuff, he was pretty excited to see an elk in town but then got a bit bored with them once we saw bigger herds in the park. Had a great coyote sighting in Moraine Park (it walked within 10 feet of us) and spotted some bighorn sheep in Big Thompson Canyon on the way back to Denver.

We did another drive on Monday through the Pike National Forest which was pretty nice. Not as scenic as some of the routes recommended but we still found it interesting.

I also went to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR on Tuesday - I've wanted to go there but have never made it. Nice place, they are building a new visitors center and will move the bison close to it once completed. But even without seeing them I thought it was a good day.

Thanks again, I'll use some of your ideas on future trips.

sf7307

Nice of you to report back!

sjde53

Sounds like you had a good time. And fortunate that you saw Bighorn sheep. My sister lives in Estes Park and says she sees them about 25% of the time when she drives in the Big Thompson Canyon to Loveland.
BTW, it takes us 1 hour and 20 minutes to drive to Estes Park from C-470/I-70, and going through Boulder. AndIt takes the same amount of time , maybe 10 minutes more to get to Vail from there.

fmpden

One comment -- If it was truly a coyote you saw, then it was not smart to get within ten feet. They can be very vicious. You should have been very noisy, aggressive, and drove him a way. Coyotes are becoming a problem in the urban environment.

offlady

Next time you might want to drive out to Cripple Creek (near Colorado Springs), and drive to the top of Mount Pisgah. You get gorgeous views--360 degree view with RM one one side and the Continental Divide on the other side. It is 2 miles elevation (10,000+) so use caution since the air is very thin up there. Winters are very cold and roads can be treacherous but summer is fine.